ALBION manager Micky Adams has rubbished suggestions of a personality clash with Rod Thomas.

Adams has fined Thomas a week's wages following his red card inside five minutes at Mansfield on Tuesday.

But the enigmatic winger, in and out of the side this season, retains his place in a depleted squad for tomorrow's trip to Hull.

"I think I have been fair with everybody, particularly the lads that have been sent off, and I am going to be fair to him," pledged Adams.

"People have made out there is some sort of personality clash between us. That couldn't be further from the truth and I am going to prove it.

"I have sat him down and he has been fined a week's wages. If he plays on Saturday he has got to get on with it."

Adams admits he considered leaving Thomas out after he head-butted Mansfield's Andy Roscoe in the face.

It was the Seagulls' sixth red card of the campaign and Adams said: "I was more disappointed with his sending off than any of the others.

"I class him as a senior professional, so he should know better. If he was a hard man or a lunatic then I could understand it.

"If he was a temperemental member of my squad I could understand it. But he is one of the most personable young men I have ever met in my life."

Albion have been rocked by bans and injuries as they seek a first win for seven games against fellow under-achievers.

Andy Crosby and Charlie Oatway are suspended and Keith McPherson is ruled out by a calf problem, but Danny Cullip is expected to shrug off an ankle knock.

Warren Aspinall will return to the starting line-up after three games on the bench, Ryan Palmer is in contention for only his second senior appearance and Jamie Campbell is recalled to the squad.

The players, experiencing that sinking feeling of late, prepared for their journey north today with a surprise swimming session.

Hull (from): Wilson; Swales, Harper, Edwards, Whitney, Greaves, Joyce, Harris, Bolder, Eyre, Brown, Schofield, Whittle, Bracey, Quigley, Bradshaw, Perry, Morgan.

Albion (from): Walton; Watson, Cullip, Carr, Palmer, Mayo, Campbell, Thomas, Rogers, Aspinall, Armstrong, Hart, Freeman, Ramsay, Cameron, Ormerod.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.